12/31/10

Happy New Years Eve everyone!  We wrapped the year up in style with a new addition to the family.  My daughter gave birth to the newest member of the family at 2:33 Christmas morning.  The little guy had some blood sugar problems and had to be put on IV in the NICU initially, he just wanted to get our attention. 
Mom , Dad and baby are home now and everyone is doing well.  We think we'll keep him!
    While all this was going on I was trying to get my entry into the Will McLean song writing contest put together.  I had plenty of time this year and still managed to screw myself up.  I had added a little production to the tune, bass, mandolin, and some harmony vocals, it was really sounding great.  I then went to download the application a few days before the deadline, and found some disturbing contest rules.  Very specifically, they wanted just a solo recording of one voice and one instrument, no overdubs, plain Jane.  So the set me back to square one. My initial tracks were recorded with the full arrangement in mind, so I had to re-record everything based on a solo type recording.  This may sound easy, but at the time I was in charge of caring for a crazed boston terrier named Winston.  He is not good in a studio environment.  That, and with new baby missions to accomplish I found myself in the usual insane mad dash for the finish line. When Winston curled up next to me on my pillow wednesday morning and started snoring at 5am I knew that was a sign to get out of bed and hit the studio to get this finished without any dog barks or phone calls.  So I wrapped it up and got it mailed a day before the deadline, thanks Winston. 
   Everyone have a great new year, we'll see you in 2011!

12/21/10

Since  my daily count has gotten totally out of control I'll just start using the date instead.  I can usually figure out what day it is.  

   We  assembled last Saturday for a gig at the Sebastian Inlet and some impromptu Christmas festivities.  Paul got pretty funky on the djembe with some sweet brush techniques, I think he was channeling Buddy Rich.  Our favorite sound man / caterer, Steve Lowe, prepared some awesome food for us and then did sound for us at the gig, yes, another renaissance man.  

   We managed to get some recording done also.  I'm working on mixing it down now and I should have things wrapped up in plenty of time to make the deadline.  Michelle sang some of the finest harmonies I've ever heard and laid down some sweet bass also, she may just be a renaissance woman.  

Until tomorrow, here's your daily dose of wisdom:

  

   Don't give up when things seem difficult, if it was easy, anyone could do it! 

Day ?

I don't even know what day it is I've been absent so long.  I managed to finish up the tune I was working on.  Tomorrow my band mate Michelle will be dropping in to lay down some bass and sweet harmony vocal parts.   I can't wait for her to do her magic.  The next move is to get Bob "Guitar" Bronar to lay down a little mandolin, that should sweeten it up just right.  If he does a good enough job we'll change his middle name to mandolin.
     The Ashley Gang will be playing at the Sebastian Inlet Sate Park Saturday night for their Night sounds at Sebastian Inlet series.  We'll be playing from 7-9 on the south side of the inlet down at the point.  Admission to the park is $8 for a car load of folks and that includes the music.  It looks like it's going to be nice and warm tomorrow and the moon is almost full.  It should be beautiful down on the water.
   Until next week, here's your daily dose of wisdom:

A song writer is just a novelist with ADHD.

Day One Hundred Thirteen

We had a great time at the gamble Rogers Memorial Celebration on Saturday.  The weather was in full cooperation mode and it was great to get together with all of our musical compadres before the holiday madness sets in.
   It looks like our good weather luck has run out, they're predicting a serious cold snap tonight and the next few days,  We're supposed to get down to 32 degrees tonight, that's cold for this time of year.  We don't usually see these kind of temperatures until January or February. Oh well, maybe it will get me into the holiday spirit.
    I'm going to take off for a couple of days from the blog to concentrate on this song that's been brewing.  I don't seem to have the time to work, blog, write songs, and record them with the 24 hours which are allotted to me each day.  So somethings got to give.  I'll be back when I've got this beast tamed.
   Until my return, here's your daily dose of wisdom:

"I am definitely going to take a course on time management... just as soon as I can work it into my schedule." - Louis E. Boone 

Day One Hundred Twelve

Friday has arrived, and not a moment to soon.  I'll be heading to Flagler beach tomorrow to rendezvous with a band of desperadoes for some music making and good times.  Our percussionist, "The Most Dangerous Man in Folk Music" is under the weather so he wont be making the scene.  Now that the cold and flu season has fully enveloped the country, it's very important to time your illness so as not to interfere with scheduled gigs.  Yes, this will go on his permanent record.
    This takes years of training, and you have to learn how to infect yourself at just the right time, calculating incubation and recovery time.  I'll be devoting an entire chapter to this in my upcoming book, 'How To Survive In The Post Apocalyptic Folk Music Business".  I'm fairly certain it would have made the New York Times best seller list, but by the time I finish it, there probably wont be a New York anymore.
   Until Next week, here's your daily dose of wisdom:

Some people worry about the end of the world, I am more concerned that it will go on just as it is forever.
  
  

Day One Hundred Eleven

Preparations for the Gamble Rogers Memorial Celebration this saturday have begun here in Pretzel Stick land.  I'm working on remembering a tune we recorded a while back called "The Haunting"which was written as a tribute to Gamble.  I never had the opportunity to meet the man, and in my usual way, would probably not have taken full advantage of the situation had it happened.  If regrets were riches we'd all be wearing diamonds.   And while he may be gone from the land of the living, he still has quite a presence in the oldest city.  It's hard to walk through the streets of St. Augustine and not be reminded of the man.  So on Saturday we'll get together with a bunch of our music making friends and let the good times roll.  I'm sure Gamble would approve.
  Until tomorrow, here's your daily dose of wisdom:
OK, I searched for an appropriate word to the wise and couldn't find a good one, so drive safely.
  

Day One Hundred Ten

 Not much to report today.  I'm still working on this new tune, about the time I get it all ironed out I'll probably decide it's not tickling my fancy and ditch it.  But I'll see it through to the end and then make my decision.  I have a hard time writing songs specifically about Florida, they seem to always turn into some kind of cliche' before there through.  And one thing I don't like is a cliche', maybe it's because the word is so French.
  Until tomorrow, here's your daily dose of wisdom:

“I am going to St. Petersburg, Florida, tomorrow. Let the worthy citizens of Chicago get their liquor the best they can. I'm sick of the job-it's a thankless one and full of grief. I've been spending the best years of my life as a public benefactor.”
  Al Capone